If there’s one thing that’s certain around here, it’s that Southern food traditions tend to persist, and for good reason: Cookbooks are passed down from mothers and grandmothers, recipes are exchanged by word of mouth, techniques are taught by hand, and Southern cooking lives on as a way to keep community, stories, and memories alive.
We love creating new recipes to suit modern tastes and trends, but there’s also something about vintage recipes that still work today. Want to bring some nostalgia and a smile of satisfaction to your dinner table? Give these retro recipes a try and they’ll surely bring back fond memories.
Southern hosts have long served cheese wafers to tide arriving guests over until the main event, and we believe cheese wafers should always be homemade.
Southern “salads” remain mainstream thanks to the rise of places like the popular Chicken Salad Chick, but do you remember the ham salad? If not, it’s time to revive this retro lunch favorite.
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Kristin Keeley
The tea sandwich is a staple of Southern luncheons, and while you may have seen versions with pimiento cheese or chicken salad, I miss this perfectly beautiful cucumber sandwich.
If this old-fashioned snack sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This salty snack is so good we keep coming back for more.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
Southerners love a cold layered salad, and this is the perfect excuse to eat it again. It’s also a great way to use up leftover cornbread.
Okra and tomatoes are a combination as beloved in the South as peanuts and Coca-Cola, or chicken and dumplings.
Southern style butter beans are a budget-friendly, easy-to-make side dish that is delicious cooked with bacon, of course.
While sweet potato casserole always makes an appearance on Thanksgiving sideboards in the South, candied yams have been forgotten by many. This delicious recipe is compelling enough to bring candied yams back into the fold.
Delicate Southern field peas are the perfect pairing with smoky ham hocks and make a great old-fashioned veggie side dish.
This cold pasta salad is reminiscent of another Southern staple, a layered salad. Simply prep the ingredients and refrigerate until ready to plate and serve.
There was a time when tomato aspic wasn’t on the menu for a ladies’ lunch, but we thought it was time for a new twist on this retro dish.
Poppyseed Chicken Casserole has been a staple on Southern dinner tables for as long as we can remember, and we’re bringing it back for its one-dish ease and home-cooked flavor.
You might still make corn pudding or cornbread, but do you remember fluffy spoonbread? Now’s the time to add it to your menu.
There aren’t many dishes more nostalgic than a casserole with a “cream” soup in the ingredients list, and turkey tetrads remind me of Thanksgiving leftovers in many families. Here’s a modern twist on a beloved classic.
Tuna Noodle Casserole is a great budget-friendly meal for busy Southern cooks.
Pineapple casserole may sound crazy to some, and to others it’s an Easter lunch staple. No matter what side you’re on, this is a truly southern recipe you have to try.
Remember this one? Chicken and wild rice casserole has been a weeknight staple in Southern homes for years, and it’s an enduring comfort food.
Once the queen of Southern lunches and brunch, Quiche Lorraine rose to prominence in the ’70s, but we still love this classic egg dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Victor Protacio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Kristin Keeley
Chicken fried steak with creamy, peppery gravy is a classic Southern dish that’s bad for your waistline but good for your heart.
Rice is the base of many old-fashioned Southern dishes, including this Lowcountry one-pot dinner.
This hearty, cheesy casserole has been a staple on weekday dinner tables for decades, and kids will keep munching on it forever.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
Coca-Cola Cake is one of our most trusted cake recipes ever: chocolatey, moist, full of soda flavor, and with a cream cheese frosting that’s even more Coca-Cola-infused.
This simple, creamy pie originated during the Great Depression and World War II, when Southern cooks would whip up “desperation pies” with whatever ingredients they had on hand.
Fruitcake is a staple on many Southern holiday tables, whether a certain generation prefers it or not.
This timeless and simple cornmeal cake uses fresh blueberries from the farmers market.
You may have enjoyed a similar layered chocolate dessert in the 1960s and 1970s, and you’ll be happy to see it’s making a comeback.
Chef Damaris Phillips shares her take on a vintage jam cake, and this layered version is truly stunning.
Nothing compares to the beautiful presentation of a vintage sliced sweet potato pie.
This vintage candy lives up to its name – it’s absolutely delicious. Make this classic candy to sweeten up your holiday dessert tray.
Icebox pie is the quintessential traditional Southern dessert, and this rich, black-bottom recipe is no exception.
This recipe originated in the early 1800s, but it’s not a cheesecake: The layers are filled with rich lemon curd.
If you can’t remember the last time you had an indulgent fudge cake, it was definitely a long time ago.
A Southern twist on the classic oatmeal cream pie, with salty and sweet caramel.
This vintage four-ingredient recipe uses every part of the lemon because lemons were expensive and hard to come by at the time this recipe was made.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
This old-fashioned gelatin recipe has been a favorite at Southern church potlucks and family gatherings for decades.
The history of this cake began over 100 years ago, when Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbirdone of the most famous American novels of all time.
Using refrigerated puff pastry cuts down on prep time without sacrificing any of this sweet dish’s distinctive flavor.
Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Rishon Hannahs, Prop Stylist: Shel Royster
Desperation Pie is far from despairing. This old-fashioned dessert is topped with a sprinkling of simple shortbread crumbles baked in a molasses mixture.
According to Appalachian folklore, this cake was traditionally a wedding treat, with each woman in the community bringing a layer of cake which they would then stack on top of each other.
If desperation pie has a place in your heart, you can’t forget soda cracker pie. With just egg whites, sugar, crackers, and a handful of nuts, it’s amazing what Southerners can pull out of the oven.
There’s nothing more comforting than spoonbread, which, despite its name, has a pudding-like texture and is a must-have in any sideboard.
Of course, we make it at the beginning of the year to bring good luck, but don’t forget that it’s just as powerful in early and late winter.
While the congealed salad is high on the list of classic recipes, today’s palates might have you reaching for a different recipe card—but still, this one’s worth keeping in mind.
Beans are always filling, and this recipe is a great way to use up a leftover ham bone. Plus, you can keep the bones stocked in your freezer all year round so you always have them on hand.
With so many amazing pies out there, it’s easy to forget about this homey treat, but one bite of the smooth custard will leave you with a lasting memory.
This salad tells a story and adds a touch of luxury to your table. With a fruity and light taste, and a special mayonnaise, this salad is sure to please.
Louisianans know how to enjoy cashau, the perfect pairing with pumpkin. Serve each slice topped with a few candied pecans and drizzled with vanilla bean custard sauce.
By Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Tory Cox
Let’s not forget to sing the praises of hash brown casserole (aka funeral casserole), which is so delicious it’s worth making even if it’s not for a funeral.
Get out your punch bowl and whip up this nostalgic recipe for your next get-together. Infuse fruit juice with two types of rum for a fruity, spirited cocktail.
Adding half a pear, a lettuce leaf, and a dollop of mayonnaise will bring back the festive atmosphere of your childhood. If you haven’t made it yet, put on your apron, grab a jar of maraschino cherries, and give it a try.
Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors-Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Grab a 9×13 inch pan and create a creamy classic that’s easy to eat with veggies, and the crispy, buttery cracker topping is sure to please.
Victor Protacio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Kristin Keeley
Liven up your party with an appetizer that’s sure to please everyone, and this latest recipe proves that cheese balls never go out of style.
